Tom Calderon decides against running for Senate seat

Calderons

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

State Sen. Ron Calderon, left, talks with California Assembly Speaker John Perez, while former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, center, talks with a friend at a memorial service for his wife, Marcella, in Montebello.

State Sen. Ron Calderon, left, talks with California Assembly Speaker John Perez, while former Assemblyman Tom Calderon, center, talks with a friend at a memorial service for his wife, Marcella, in Montebello. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

SACRAMENTO -- Former Democratic state Assemblyman Tom Calderon has decided not to run next year for the state Senate seat being vacated by his brother, Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), friends and associates said Wednesday.

The decision was not a surprise to many watching the campaign, including former campaign advisors who noted he had raised little money for the election.

In June, the FBI served search warrants on the office of Sen. Ron Calderon as part of a public corruption investigation.

In August, the FBI served a second round of subpoenas on the Central Basin Municipal Water District seeking documents on agency officials and contracts connected to Tom Calderon, who had been paid $750,000 in consulting fees by the district since 2004.

Sen. Ron Calderon and a third brother, former Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier), had weighed in against legislation opposed by the water district while it was paying Tom Calderon.

Tom Calderon served in the state Assembly from 1998 to 2002. His wife, Marcella, died last year.

The decision leaves several other potential candidates, including former Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia.

When reached by phone on Wednesday, Tom Calderon declined to comment about his decision to not run for the Senate. The Sacramento Bee quoted him as saying: “I just need to take time for myself and my family."